Good to know Budapest I.

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Budapest: Climate, Time Zone, Holidays, Information Offices, Budapest facts and figures, CURRENCY Forint (Ft or HUF), Exchanging money, Telephone...

INFORMATION OFFICESTourinform Main office – Police-info office1052 Budapest, Sütô utca 2 (at Deák tér), 8 am–8 pm Liszt Ferenc tér1061 Budapest, Liszt Ferenc tér 11, 15 June–31 Oct. 9 am–7 pm; 1 Nov.–14 June Mon–Fri: 10 am–6pm, Sat: 10 am–4 pm, Sun: closed Western Railway Station (Nyugati Pályaudvar)1062 Budapest, Teréz körút 55 , 1 May–31 Oct. 9 am–7 pm; 1 Nov.–30 Apr. Mon–Fri: 9 am–6 pm, Sat–Sun: 10 am–3 pm Buda Castle1014 Budapest, Szentháromság tér , 1 May–31 Oct. 9 am–8 pm; 1 Nov.–30 Apr. Mon–Fri: 10 am–7 pm, Sat–Sun: 10 am–4 pm Ferihegy – terminal 11185 Budapest, Ferihegyi Repülôtér 1 terminál, 8 am–11 pm Ferihegy – terminal 2A1185 Budapest, Ferihegyi Repülôtér 2A terminál, arrivals , 8 am–11 pm Ferihegy – terminal 2B1185 Budapest, Ferihegyi Repülôtér 2B terminál, arrivals, 8 am–11 pm Nonstop information:Tourinform call centre (24 hours): (+36-1)438-8080 Tourinform hotline (24 hours): (+36-30)30-30-600 from abroad, (06-80)630-800 from Hungary ClimateTemperate zone, continental climate, four seasons. Hottest months: July, August (temperatures can reach 28–35°C). Coldest months: December, January (temperatures can fall as low as –15°C). Budapest has a relatively high number of hours of sunshine per annum. It exceeds 8 hours per day between April and September.Time zone Budapest is on Central European time (CET). GMT +1 hour. Summer time (March to the middle of October): GMT +2 hours HolidaysNon-working days: national holidays (15 March, 20 August, 23 October) and 1 May (May Day) plus Christian holidays: 1 January, All Saint’s Day (1 November), Easter Mon., Whit Mon., Christmas and Boxing Day (25–26 December). Budapest facts and figuresArea: 525 square kilometres (in a northsouth direction approx. 25 km, east-west approx. 29 km). Population: 1 815 000. Population density: 3456 persons/square kilometer. Administrative structure: 23 districts. Buda: comprising one-third of the area of the city on the hilly, right bank of the Danube. Pest: comprising two-thirds of the area of the city on the flat, left bank of the Danube. Islands (from north to south): Óbuda Island, Margaret Island, Csepel Island. Bridges: nine bridges, of which two are rail bridges. By passenger carOf the four motorways and four highways in Hungary, seven depart from Budapest (motorway No. 8 is the exception). Drivers are obliged to purchase a motorway sticker for the motorways M1, M3, M5 and M7 (obtainable at border crossing points and major petrol stations). The Hungarian Highway Code (KRESZ) is based on the Vienna and Geneva Convention, and as such traffic signs and road markings are similar to those found in other European countries. However, it is important to highlight a few key traffic regulations that tourists visiting Hungary must observe at all times: use of seatbelts in the front and rear seats is compulsory; only mobile phones fitted with loudspeaker and microphone may be used in cars, and it is recommended that drivers making or receiving a call pull over to the side of the road in a safe area; drivers may not consume any alcohol before driving, and drunk drivers can be fined upwards of HUF 30,000 (USD 130); the speed limit in built-up areas is 50 kph, outside built-up areas 90 kph, on main roads 110 kph and on motorways 130 kph; use of the horn in towns is only permitted inmoments of danger (despite which, unfortunately, Hungarian drivers frequently use their horns without proper reason). Hungarian Automobile Club (Magyar Autóklub) 24 hour helpline: (+36-1)345-1755 Roadside breakdown service: 188 CURRENCY Forint (Ft or HUF) Exchanging moneyExchanging money is only permitted in licensed, designated places. Do not take the risk of changing money on the street. You are likely to find yourself with counterfeit money, besides which such transactions are illegal. The Hungarian National Bank gives official daily foreign exchange and currency rates on 23 currencies. Most banks have 24-hour banknote exchange ATMs. Besides this there are many credit card and cash card ATMs in operation day and night. Banks and travel agencies can set (and modify) their own exchange rates, taking the bank of issue’s rate as the basis. Any bureau de change has to have the current exchange rates clearly displayed. Please keep your exchange receipt in a safe place until you depart the country. Broadly speaking, the best exchange rates are to be found close to the rail stations and in the city centre (Petôfi Sándor Street). Banks generally give a middle rate, and the airport and hotel exchange. TelephoneHungary code: 36,Budapest: 1,dialling code for inland calls: 06.Budapest telephone numbers are 7 digits, countryside numbers (including the trunk code) 8 digits.If you wish to phone abroad from Hungary, first dial 00, wait for the tone, and then dial the country code, town code and continue with the telephone number.Public phones operate with 20, 50 and 100 forint coins and telephone cards. The latter can be purchased in tobacconists, post offices, petrol stations and newsagents. It is cheaper to phone at the weekend, on public holidays and in the evening.Mobile telephone numbers are 9-digit, after dialling 06; depending on the telephonecompany, the first two numbers are 20, 30 or 70. Publisher: Tourism Office of Budapest

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